THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE AND ITS ZOONOTIC ASPECT IN EGYPT

Purpose: this study is carried out to investigate the epidemiology of FMD in Egypt and its
zoonotic aspect.
Methods: esophageal /pharyngeal, milk and fecal samples were collected from cattle, buffaloes,
sheep, goats; also, samples from animal drinking water and soil from animal yards were collected
for both the detection of FMDV by RT-PCR and isolation of the virus on BHK including typing
of isolates by ELISA. In addition, tissues of rodents trapped from animal yards were examined by
both techniques. Furthermore, animal sera were tested for non structure protein (NSP) antibodies
by ELISA while human sera obtained from animal contacts were tested for FMDV antibodies.
Results: FMDV was detected and isolated at the following rates (30.3 %, 18.4%, 32.6% and
45.2%) for cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats respectively. The majority of isolates were from
asymptomatic animals however few cases were recorded. FMDV type O was the predominant.
The virus was detected in the feces of ten animals as well as in the milk of three animals while
being asymptomatic. The rates for (NSP) antibodies were ( 28.8%, 23.4 % , 42.9 % and 30.8% )
for cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats respectively while neither rodent nor human samples was
positive. Moreover, the virus was detected in five water samples but none of the soil samples
were positive. Conclusion: high incidence of FMD among asymptomatic animals with shedding
of the virus in saliva, feces, milk denoting the possible role of asymptomatic animals specially
sheep and goats in the epidemiology of FMD in Egypt through dissemination of the virus and
initiation of new epidemics putting in our mind the possibility of water borne transmission of the
virus.